1009 South Street, Key West - Casa Marina Area

Just listed 1009 South Street, an early 20th Century home that has become a legal multi-unit apartment. The builing has 2,381 Sq Ft of living space and sits on a 4,830 Sq Ft corner lot in the Casa Marina Area of Key West.

I found the above aerial photo taken in 1930 which shows 1009 South Street existing at that time The entire area had drastically changed over the ninety following years. Today most of the empty lots have been built and original cottages and homes rebuilt. The house next door to 1009 South Street was in fact the cover and feature home in Architectural Digest about a decade ago. CLICK HERE to read.  I reccomend buyers seeking an entry to Key West to seriously consider this property and figure out to to make it into your dream home. It is still five blocks from the beach.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and photos of 1009 South Street offered at $1,200,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

618 Catholic Lane, Key West - Hidden Gem

618 Catholic Lane is located on one of those slow lanes of Key West of which I am so fond. This lane is tucked away just to the north of the Key West cemetery where Angela Street is a one-way street for the three block stretch between Frances Street to the east and Margaret Street on the west. Angela Street is so narrow those dang fangled Conch Trains and Trolley Cars can't go down the street. The result is this little piece of Paradise is not burdened by traffic or much of anything. One might see a tourist with a guidebook nosing around, however. Author Evan Rhodes (The Prince of Central Park among others) used to live two doors to the south.

Long time readers of my blog know that I like to root through my old shoebox looking for photos of houses I write about and also search the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps to determine when houses may have been built. I did both here and came up empty handed except that remembered looking up a couple of other houses last year on adjacent Roberts Lane which extends west about 150 feet or so off Frances Street. When I searched the 1899 map I saw several cottages on Roberts which is now only a walking lane. As I stood on the Catholic Lane property I remember looking through the trees towards the east. I saw the backside of 1020 Southard Street (the Gingerbreadman House) I wrote about last week. I also saw the rear of the house at 1022 Roberts Lane I wrote about two years ago. My thesis is Roberts Lane and Catholic Lane sort of converged but did not exactly meet. It makes sense to me that the black and white photo above which has the notation 610 Roberts Lane may in fact be the current day 618 Catholic Lane because there is no 610 Roberts Lane anymore.

The Sanborn Map shows Catholic Lane abruptly ending just at the front gate of 618 Catholic Lane. My theory makes sense to me. It may or may not be correct.  But story got my readers inside this property that they might not have ever seen or considered.

When you pass through the double wooden gates and enter the property you will likely be awed by the size of this hidden garden. It is so unexpected. Residents and frequent visitors know that most houses in Old Town have limited outdoor spaces. This home is the opposite. The lot is huge and roughly measures 90' X 29'.  The house abuts the west property line boundary so the open space seems immense.

When you step up onto the front porch you should immediately "get" the house. The porch runs the length of the house and provides lounging and dining spaces for outdoor living. I love the fall and winter nights when we can dine outside under the moon (or a porch) while others up north in America huddle around a pot belly stove or other heat producing device. The bright white clapboards  are set off by the black wood shutters that encase the five sets of doors that bring sunshine (albeit filtered by the palm trees and tropical foliage) into the home. Windows and doors on the three other sides bring more light into the space where drapes and blinds are for the most part not necessary. The result is a bright and open living environment. 

The master bedroom has a two sets of French doors which open out to the pool with fountain. I could hear the water flowing as I walked around the bedroom and master bath. I thought how marvelous it would be to hear that soothing sound late at night or early morning. The bathroom is enormous and also has a door that opens out to the deck area. By the way there is an outdoor shower located on the far side of the pool waterfall.

The second bedroom is located down the hall from the kitchen and past the guest bathroom (with laundry) and the master bedroom. This bedroom is currently configured for an occasional guest and has a loft for the grand children and really unexpected guests. This house sparkles from top to bottom.  I looked for but did not find anything left undone. This house is in move-in condition.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and more listing photos of 618 Catholic Lane. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private tour of this very private and beautiful home which was once the guest house of the larger home at 1014 Southard Street which was the cover story home in Architectural Digest in the mid 2000s. This was never an ordinary house. It is extraordinary. It is a hidden gem.

1012 Southard Street - Old Town Premier Location - Key West

1012 Southard Street - Old Town - Key West - Short Sale

I have previously written about 1012 Southard Street extolling the many reasons why I think this property is a great buy. Now there is an additional reason: the asking price has been reduced to just $699,000 and the property is now offered as a short sale. The three bedroom and three bath home has the makings of true wish fulfillment for those who are willing to do a little work in exchange for getting a lot in return.

Just below you will see photos of 1012 and 1014 Southard Street as they appeared when photographed in 1965 with new photos taken this week.

1012 Southard Street was built in 1899

1012 Southard Street - December 2011

1014 Southard Street built in 1895 - 1012 Southard St is adjacent to right

The same location in December 2011

The listing broker at Preferred Properties, that is where I work but this is not my listing, describes the property this way:

"Renovation project in a most sought after location in historic old town! This charming property features a 3/2 home that could be a show place plus a move in ready 1/1 guest cottage. Both houses open to the covered lanai and spacious, sunny decked pool area. The large lot features off-street parking. This is a great opportunity!"

Doors from the living room open out to the covered veranda

The main house at 1012 Southard Street was built in 1899. The home was renovated sometime after 1981 and has remained pretty much unchanged since then. The renovations of that era now seem a bit dated, but the house is perfectly livable as is. The house currently has three bedrooms, two baths, a small sleeping loft which would be great for the grand kids. The kitchen and the wonderful covered veranda overlook the large and inviting pool. The adjacent guest cottage with a mini kitchen and bath was added was built a few years ago.

Guest Cottage Exterior

Guest Cottage Interior

Main home living room

Main home kitchen

The Property Appraiser's records show the house has 1676 sq ft of living space situated on a 5,000 sq ft lot (50' x `100') on one of the very best blocks in Old Town Key West. I have included photos of the cottage and the pool area. I always tell potential buyers to use their imaginations and plan to reconfigure existing spaces inside the big empty box that are the initial start of any renovation project. Existing interior walls, cabinets, and fixtures are often moved, sometimes replaced, and typically improve what was in the property for years. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this property.

I held an open house at this property a couple of years ago. I remember a lady from Miami with a large family studied every aspect of the property. She then told me that if she bought the property she would paint the interiors but would then live with the house the way it is for several months. She said she could then figure out how what really needed to be renovated. I think that makes sense with a lot of houses, but it makes a huge amount of sense with this property. We have become so accustomed to granite, marble, and stainless steel that we often miss the simple elements of good design that make some spaces so very comfortable and inviting.

The Gingerbread Man house is located at 1020 Southard Street

1022 Southard Street has been totally dolled up for Christmas

Notice 1022 has the same basic design and roof line as 1012 Southard St

Jan George Design is located at the corner of Southard & Frances Sts.

Cafe Sole is on the opposite corner

1013 Southard St is directly across the street

1015 Southard Street - one of the great homes of Key West

Every time I have shown 1012 Southard Street I have tried to get buyers to sit down and take in the pure beauty of the pool and garden area. The house next door at 1014 Southard Street was the cover feature in Architectural Digest a few years back and it shares the same excellent location. I also walk potential buyers down Southard Street to see similar one story houses like 1016 and 1020 Southard Street that have undergone some magical transformations of their own.

Now that 1012 Southard Street is priced at just $699,000, someone will snap up this short sale in a snap. The real estate maximum "location, location, location" was never more true than it is with 1012 Southard Street in Old Town Key West.

Time waits for no one. Act quick before this Key West short sale is snapped up by someone else. Please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 and let me you buy your place in Paradise. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc.